(80) 



eases. These curves cannot lie looked upon as deciding in (his point, 

 because not tliere as in my cases, the auricle beass regularly, 

 and therefore entirely different factors must be present, which has 

 been overlooked by the writer. He appears to disregard, that in 

 different lower animals, it was proved, that under influence of the 

 vagus-nerve, at the same time the conductivity in one cavity can be 

 improved, in others can be inhibited, which was confirmed by 

 Engelmann, when he observed, how on the three bridges, veins- 

 sinus, sinus-auricle, auricle-ventricle, independently of each other, 

 conductivity might be changed; sufficient to show, that only very 

 direct proofs could force us to admit, that under pathological cir- 

 cumstances this independence of conductivity in various parts should 

 be lost. As well here, as also there, where Wenckebach explains 

 the early smaller contraction by the quicker course of the weaker 

 pulse-wave in the vessels, Wenckebach's conclusions appear to be 

 much exposed to discussion. Also his conclusion, that there is no 

 principal difference between I'. A. with too early and retarded small 

 contraction wave does not appear to be warranted by any well- 

 known fact, certainly not by Wenckebach's suppositions. Sufficient 

 facts can be adduced now. that here in different ways the same 

 result can be arrived at. 



To my former curves of l'.A. brought about by poor nutrition, 

 I now can add similar curves of P. A. brought about by injection 

 of digitalis dyalisata (fig. 2). 



In this case the interval Si s — V s can easily be determined. This 

 amounts to 20.6; 22.3; 20.9. In every case this interval is lengthened 

 where it precedes a smaller contraction; i.e. the contraction-wave, 

 which culminates in a smaller V s , found more resistance on its 

 way from the sinus to the ventricle and there was an undoubtable 

 slowing of the conduction. 



Looking carefully at the curve, one finds that the sinus contraction 

 preceding a weak V s shows a flattened top, By measuring the 

 intervals of Si s it becomes equally clear, that the sinus does not. 

 contract regularly and that it is the sinus contraction that conies 

 too early, that is followed by a smaller V s - Also the A 3 preceding 

 the weak I", appears to be diminished in size. 



Although it is not the place here, to go into detail about the new 

 fact, that there exists a relation between the force of the sinus and 

 auricular contraction and the force of the ultimate T.,, I will only 

 remark, that in many simular experiments this relation was found. 

 The question arises indeed, if in fact different parts of the three 

 principal heart-cavities do maintain a special relationship in such a 



